DCI Clears Air on Jirongo Tragedy: Accident or Lingering Shadows?
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has ruled out foul play in the death of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, classifying the December 13, 2025, crash as a tragic road accident.
This conclusion echoed across media, addresses conspiracy theories but leaves questions about his route unanswered.
As Kenya reflects on Jirongo’s legacy, the probe highlights tensions between official findings and public skepticism.
Jirongo’s Rise in Kenyan Politics
Cyrus Jirongo emerged as a political force in the early 1990s, leading Youth for KANU ’92 (YK ’92) to rally support for President Daniel arap Moi ahead of multiparty elections.
Born in 1961 and educated at Mang’u High School, he chaired AFC Leopards before entering politics, becoming synonymous with the group’s aggressive mobilization tactics.
Elected Lugari MP in 1997 and again from 2007-2013, he served as Minister for Rural Development in 2002, navigating KANU’s decline and forming parties like KADDU.
His influence extended to business, amassing wealth through real estate and earning the nickname tied to the Sh500 note amid YK ’92 funding controversies.
Jirongo later vied for presidency in 2013 and 2017, aligning with figures like William Ruto early on before shifting parties.
At 64, he remained a seasoned operative whose death on Nakuru-Nairobi highway sparked national mourning and debate.
The Fatal Night Unraveled
Jirongo left Karen Oasis Bar around 11:30 p.m. on December 12, reportedly heading to Gigiri, yet ended up 90 km away in Naivasha for a 3 a.m. collision at Karai.
His Mercedes Benz E350 (KCZ 305C) smashed head-on into a Climax Coaches bus after drifting into oncoming traffic, autopsy confirming death by severe chest trauma.
CCTV from Eagol Petrol Station showed him stopping without refueling before turning toward the crash site.
Witnesses, including bus driver Tiras Kamau and seven passengers, described erratic entry onto the highway, with no signs of pursuit.
Statements from wife Anne Lanoi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and others confirmed routine interactions that evening.
“Additionally, Rt. Hon. Moses Wetang’ula, Mr Rebman Malala, and Mr Ibrahim Sambili, who had an interaction with the deceased at Karen Oasis restaurant in the evening of 12th December, 2025, voluntarily came forward to provide the investigators with their accounts of the events,” the statement noted.
The highway’s reputation for deadly overtakes fueled initial suspicions, but forensics found no sabotage.
DCI Probe: Evidence and Conclusions
A multi-agency team processed the scene, analyzed bus manifests, CCTV, and amateur videos, interviewing Probox occupants trailed on camera clearing them of involvement.
“A multi-disciplinary team was deployed to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragic death,” the DCI said in its statement.
DCI head Mohammed Amin stated no murder evidence emerged, recommending a public inquest over homicide charges.
On January 5, 2026, this is highlighted as settling the “death puzzle,” urging restraint from speculative theories.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) wishes to update the public on the ongoing investigations into the tragic death of Hon. Cyrus Jirongo,” read their statement in part.
Private family investigators claimed CCTV showed two in the car, but official reports contradict this, with burial on December 30 proceeding amid rituals like a torch to reveal “killers.”
DCI cautioned politicians against prejudice, forwarding files to the DPP.Despite closure, the probe underscores Kenya’s trust gaps in high-profile deaths.
“The incident appears to be a road traffic accident, with no indications of foul play,” the DCI said.
Figures like Fred Gumo and George Khaniri questioned the Naivasha detour, evoking past mysteries like Robert Ouko’s. Cultural elders buried him with symbolic rites, while President Ruto , honored a YK ’92 icon.
Jirongo’s death closes a chapter on Moi-era politics, but unresolved timelines keep whispers alive. His broad alliances and business savvy shaped Kenya’s transitions, from KANU loyalist to opposition player.
As burial dust settles, the DCI verdict prioritizes road safety on killer stretches like Karai. Jirongo’s story reminds of politics’ perils, blending triumph, controversy, and tragedy.